Earth-boring machine



' 1,678,307 F. STONE EARTH BORING MACHINE Filed Jan. 12, 192 3 sheets sheet 1 6 7 d." 8 m d I2 38 IP I H I 30 m w" F' 1 Z ATTORNEY July 24, 19:46.

F. STONE EARTH BORING MACHINE Filed Jan. 12, 1924 s Sheets-Sheet JNVENTOR Fmder/ck Stone ATTORNEY F. STONE EARTH. BORING MACHINE July 24, 1928.

.shwtwsheet Filed Jan. 12, 1924 Patented July 24, 1928.

UNITED STATES FREDERICK STONE, OF SPOKANE, WASHINGTON.

EARTH-B03111 G MACHINE.

Application filed January 12, 1924. Serial No. 685,744.

My present invention relates to improvements in earth boring machines of the rotary drill type, wherein the machine is preferably depressed or located below the sur-- face of the ground to insure convenience and ready access to the attendants, and protection from accidents to the operating mechanism.

The machine, of my invention is designed for use in deep earth boring or drilling for oil, gas, artesian and other Wells and the rotary drill head is supported for vertical -movement when required upon hydraulic devices in such manner as to insure the proper load adjiistment on the rotary drill for the proper performance of its functions. By means of the hydraulic devices downward pressure may also be imparted to the tool when required, and the drill rod may be elevated to withdraw the drilling tool from the well.

The primary object of the present invention is to improve the construction and operation of the rotary drill head in certain particulars whereby an effective grip between the drill head and drill rod may with facility be secured, and which may with equal convenience be released when required. The grip is effected in such manner as to retain the drill rod in'its head in stable position against either wabbling or slipping with relation to the rod, and pedal actuated means areprovided for releasing the head fromlthe rod for the purpose of permitting lowering of the rod as the drilling progresses. By the utilization of the various features of my invention a combination and arran ement of parts in the rotary drill head is ei ected to secure simplicity in construction and operation of the machine.

In the accompanying drawings I have il-,

lustrated one complete example of the physi- :cal embodiment of my invention wherein the parts are combined and arranged in accordance with the best mode I have thus far devised for'the practical application of the principles of my invention. I

Figure 1 is a perspective view in elevation with the machine in operative position and illustrating the power mechanism.

Figure 2 is a vertical-sectional view of the assembled machine showing the chuck or rip device between the drill head and the "grill rod, with the head in lowered position. Figure 3 is a perspective view of the pedal mechanism, for releasing the chuck from the rotary drill head.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the sec- M05131 chuck or gripping jaws for the drill ro Figure 5 is a perspective view of the changeable bushing of the chuck.

Figure 6 is a perspective view at the top of the rotary drill head showing the socket therein for the chuck bushing and means for locking the bushing in place.

Figure 7 is a detail perspective view of a pair of retaining plates of the chuck.

Figure 8 1s a perspective view of the interchangeable thimble rod.

In the accompanying drawings 1 have indicated as 1 the usual type of rotary drill rod and well casing 2 and the machinery of the drill head is indicated as supported on timbers T face, planks P being indicated for covering the pit and enclosin the machinery. While the rotary drill heat i may be drivingly connected to the drill rod in any manner suitable to carry out the particular operation in hand '(the general ty of connection depending upon the particular operation, as is well understood), by way of illustration the drawings show an assembly wherein the drill head is directly connected to the drill rod by means of a pair of complementary aws 3 and 4 to form a sectional gripping device with an interior cylindrical bore threaded or otherwise formed at 5 to secure a close rip on the exterior surface of the round rill rod. This gripping device or sectional chuck is rectangular in cross section and tapers from its top flat surface to its bottom flat surface and the two sections when in place surround the drill rod as shown. For releasing the grip of these jaws I employ a clutch collar or ring 6 having a slidable fit on the drill rod and located above the jaws at the top of the drill head.

The clutch ring is fashioned with a pair of .angular slotted lugs 7 depending therefrom, each of which fits between a pair of brackets 8 on the sectional chuck 3-4 and pins 8. are used to make loose pivotal connections between the lugs and brackets. A loose ring 9 is carried by the clutch ring, and this ring or collar 9 has laterally extending diametrically arranged pins 9 for the accommodation of the forked, angular pedal for aligning the drill in a pit at the ground surlever 10 which is pivoted at 11 to fixed brackets 12 of the machine. It will be apparent that by exerting a downward pressure on the pedal level 10 it will be swung on its pivot 11 and the collar 9 and rin 6 will be caused to lift the sections 3 and 4 of the chuck to release these sections or jaws from the drill rod, when required. 7

When in operative position the sectional jaws 3, 4 are enclosed within a complementary, angular split bushing 13 which is tapered exteriorly and also has an interior socket 14 with tapering walls complementary to the exterior tapering faces of the jaws 3 and 4 that seat in the socket. At opposite sides of the socket 14 are fashionedtapering keys 15 which coact with the complementary grooves 16 of the jaws 3, 4 toguide the movement of the jaws to and from gripping position.

The bushing is supported within a rotary drill head 17 which has a tapering socket 18 therein for the reception of the bushing and which of course conforms to the exterior formation of the bushing. The socket 18 of.

the rotary drill head is also fashioned with tapering or wedge-shaped keys 19 on opposed iaces, said keys being'adaipted to function as do keys 15, that is, keys 19 act as section guides when the bushing is removed so larger size chuck sections or sli s, similar to sections 3 or 4, may be taken irectly in socket 18. Bushing 13 has vertically extending clearance grooves20 on opposite exterior faces thereof, so it may be lowered into socket 18 without interference from keys 19. 5 p

On the upperor to surface of the rotary drill head are provi ed a pair of complementary, "horizontally disposed, grooved, flanges 21, 21 located near'the edge of the head and adjacent to the socket 18. These grooved flanges are designed to receive the horizontally is osedretainin'g plates 22and 23 which have ateral flanges 24 for a sliding fit beneath the flanges 21 of the head. The plates are cut'out or formed with re eesses'to span the drill rod and are located;

on topof the bushing .and gripping jaws to retain them in position -in the drill head..

By means of the four set screws or bolts 25 w i loosened and then the ch pass through the lates and bear against the-topsurface's o the chuck sec tionsor jaws these tapering members-may be forced down inthe drill "head to insure a tight retaint e parts in the drill head. If the ip'ofthe jaws on the drill rod and jaws are to be removed, these bolts are first plates are withdrawn inopposite directions y'sliding them free I of the drillhead.

Within the bottom of the bushing 13 is located split alining thimble 26, which is formed with an upper exterior flange 27 .fit-

, ting within thelower open end of the bush-' to the bottom of the bushing, which plate at a point below bearing 35 and ing. The thimble encases the-drill rod 1 and centers it within the drill head, and as the drill rods vary inv diameter the uipment ma include a number ofthese t im-- bles whic also vary in diameter to fit the va- A retaining plate 28 is securedby bolts 29 surrounds thethimble and fits under the flange 27 thereof to hold the thimble in place. j I On the exterior of the rotary drill head 17 is affixed a gear ring 30,secured to the head in suitable manner. The drill head em bodies an upper portion 17 of relatively large outside diameter and a depending bearing sleeve 31 of relatively small outside diameter, and'cylindrical 'in shape and enclosing the drill rod as seen in Figure 2.. At

the junction of the larger and smaller'porh tions an "annular downwardly facin' bear supporting the load of the drilling tool, an auxiliary upthr'ust bearing '35 is located beneath the table 33*. for providing anti-frictionmeansfor the rotary drill head when auxi ary bearing is interposed betweenthe under face of the table 33 and is detachabl held to sleeve 31 by bearing rings 36 thread ed on the exterior of the said sleeve; and an enclosing cup 37 is fixed. to. the under face of thebearing head for shielding these elementsof the auxiliary bearing as well as to form a bearing for the sleeve of-the rotary; 1 drill head at the lower end of said sleeve.

Cup 37 may be considered as embodying a depending annular flangeidetachably secured to the-table at37", annularlyspaced" from sleeve 31 ad'acent to the table, and providing at 37 mi ial bearing for the sleeve;

spaced below the table.

. a The rotary drill head is operated through the ear ring 30 by means 0 afdriving gear or pinion 38 on the shaft 39,.a bearm :40 being carried by the table '33 for this aft and suitable bearing sleeves being provided 7 permit rotation of the shaft in the bearing to therein. The driving pinion and its shaft are vertically' mov'able with the similarly 3Q rious rods, and of course the sectional jaws 3 and 4 are readily adapted for use with rodsof different diameters within limits.

' I I O I an opposite pressure-is-being exerted. This appreciablyf.

' shaft to revolve in this bearingJ also.

ering of the drill head and the r0 gripped thereby. a

A. fixed bearing 41 for the angular shaft is secured to the stationar rectan ar frame 42 of the machine, an suitable earing sleeves are provided for journaling t}:

gearcouple 43, 44 in the form of vel gears is driven from the operating shaft 45 to revolve the vertical angular shaft 39, and suitable bearings as'46 are provided for this horizontally disposed. shaft 45 which is driven from a usual source of power. Thus while the bevel gears 34, 44 have stationary supports the rotary drill head and table with the gear 30 and pinion 38, as well as the shaft 39 are vertically movable as before described.

The rotary drill head through its table 33 is supported for vertical movement on hydraulic devices including a pair of piston stems 47 having heads 48 at their lower ends and operative within complementary cylinders 49 supported on the base plate 50, the latter bein supported in turn on the tim-' bers T in the bottom of the pit.

Motive fluid is supplied to the lower end of the respective cylinders for lifting the pistons through pipes 51, and outlet pipes 51 from the c linders maybe used to withdraw the fluid: or to provide pressure in the cylinders on top of the iston heads for forcing downwardly the dri 1 rod.

At 52 the piston stems 47 are secured in suitable manner to the table 33', and these stems have slide bearings 53 in the stationary rectangular frame '42 idin the movement of thestems and ho ding them in true position for operation. I

Inaddition to the guides for the stems, the table is guided and held in stable posi- .tion by means of four posts 54'bolted thereto and passing through guide sleeves 55 of the stationary frame 42, which posts not only guide the .table' in vertical movement, but hold itin. rigid stationary position. bracing the frame 42 to hold it in rigid position stay'bolts or braces 56 may be em ployed, which are anchored in the timbers T' with their-'upper'ends in engagement with i the frame.

For

be. no need in this event for interchangeable parts.

Havin thus fully described my invention,

what I c aim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is In well drilling apparatus of the charac--- ter described, a non-rotatable horizontal table supported for vertical reciprocation and having an axial opening. therethrou h, an upstanding-annular flange on the ta le about and annularl spaced from the axial opening, an anti-friction bearing seated on thetable within the flange, a tubular, rotatable drill head adapted to take vertically 'extendin" work through its bore and to hold said worh tical movement with respect thereto, said' against relative rotation and verhead embodying an upper'portion of relatively lar e diameter, and a lower sleeve ortion o relatively small diameter, there eing a downwardl' facing, annular shoulder formed at the unction of the said upper portion. being dis se within the upwardly opening socket efined at its bottom by said bearing and annularly defined by said flange, said shoulder engagin the bearing and the flange having radii bearing with said u per portions, said sleeve portion extendin t rough the table bore to a point apprecia 1y below the table, an upthrust bearin below the tabie and, in effect, ooacting with (portions,

detachably held to the sleeve the underside of the table to hold the head "sleeve portion, said depending flange extend-' ing downwardl about the up-thrust bearing and provi ing radial bearingfor-the sleeve portion at a point below said upthrust bearing, said de ending flange form-- ing a housing about sai u thrust bearing.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signa ture.

FREDERICK-STONE. 

